Celebrating Movies, Music, and Other Media of the Sub-Continent

I wanted to write a well-researched post on the occasion of Hemant Da’s birth anniversary. Unfortunately, too many things are happening today and so this is going to be just about 11 of his songs that I love (and absolutely from the top of my head).

Premanth, Hasrat Jaipuri, Sardar Malik, Hemant, and a lilting chorus create one of the most memorable songs.

Jaane Wo Kaise Log They (Pyaasa,1957)

The two songs of Rafi, picturised on Guru Dutt are more popular but Hemant’s voice esp as he sings “Humko Apna Saya Tak Aksar Bezaar Mila” brings out all the loneliness of a misfit in a materialistic world.

Yaad Aa Gayi Wo Nashili Nigahen (Manzil, 1960)

Absolutely intoxicating.

Insaaf Ki Dagar Pe Bachon Dikhayo Chal Ke (Ganga Jamna, 1961)

A lesson long forgotten… but the line “Jeevan Naya Milega, Antim Chita Mein Jal Ke” gives me the goosebumps.

Beqarar Karke Hume Yun Na Jaiye (Bees Saal Baad,1962)

Sheer romance.

Suraj Re Jalte Rehna (Harishchandra- Taramati, 1963)

“Likha Hai Ye Hi Tere Bhaag Mein, Ki Tera Jeevan Rahe Aag Mein….” Pradeep’s Paean to the Sun God and to all those who suffer for the welfare of others.

Thanks Madhulika for sharing this beautiful song. I thought that this would be the Bangla version of ‘Tumhi Pukaar Lo’ but it turned out to be ‘Nain dare dare.’Beautiful. Hemant da’s voice is mishri-ghuli-hui.

Yes. Personally, I prefer this version of the tune better than Yeh nayan dare-dare, even though that song is a favourite of mine. Perhaps there’s something extra special about Hemant singing in Bangla. 😉

Bangla is such a sweet language, isn’t it? I don’t know it but somehow it seems a very soft language to me and quite influenced by Sanskrit.It also reminds me of school days with group songs like “Ekla Chalo Re” and “Bande Mataram.”:)

Yes, it’s a lovely language. I can understand it a little bit (my mother is half Bengali, though since she left Calcutta after getting married, she has forgotten most of her Bangla), but I’m nowhere fluent enough to be able to follow Bengali films without subtitles. Fortunately, old Bengali films are among the few regional language films which are easy to find with subtitles – even on Youtube. 🙂

Text Widget

This is a text widget. The Text Widget allows you to add text or HTML to your sidebar. You can use a text widget to display text, links, images, HTML, or a combination of these. Edit them in the Widget section of the Customizer.